We dreamed of a networked world full of bridgesSpanning the gaps between people and nationsConnectivity in a globalized world brought us closerEnabling us to find new brothers and sisters and friendsThat lived in lands we could have never visited beforeThe oceans and borders that separated ceased to matterAnd we could share our images, our passions, our hearts desireSharing the parts of life we wanted others to see and admireNever knowing that this land of connectivity built its bridgesIn the land of trolls.They sat there silent: watching, waiting, biding their timePlotting how to ambush and overwhelm the unsuspecting The beautiful avatars that ventured over their bridges provoked somethingWithin them: hatred and ugliness emerged from their gutAnd many found themselves overcome by the bile and bellowThe bridges also allowed the trolls to find their own fellowsTogether they could construct cathedrals of fear and congregations of hateDefending the bridges they claimed as their own domainMainly working through intimidation and harassment Yet occasionally in their obsession they use physical violenceBut often the psychological scars of the encounterEntered the blood and bone of the ambushedIn the land of trollsSo how do you deal with trolls, do you abandon the bridges?Surrendering the dream of connectivity and the connections madeAre armies sent beneath the bridges in an attempt to root them out?Do solitary heroes stand-alone against the onslaught of the hoard?Or do we simply refuse to feed the trolls any longer?Do we deny them the sustenance of our fear or the sight of our pain?Others have attempted to act as missionaries attempting to convert Yet, the trolls have often dined on the well-meaning priest of reconciliationThe trolls seem to like the safety and darkness of their unseen hauntsYet, I wonder, if a troll unseen and unheard even exists at allOr does it become one more vanquished spirit searching for a victimSome mortal to haunt with its shadowy threats and terrifying wordsYet, perhaps if their voice has no power they might find themselves bypassedHaunting an unused wasteland cursed to wander the wildernessThat has become the land of trolls